Compare brokers side by side before you choose.
Pick up to four brokers and quickly spot the differences that change a decision: trust, fees, platforms, withdrawals, restrictions, and notes you should verify.
Built for final-shortlist moments: select brokers, scan the trade-offs, then open the profile for deeper source notes.
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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 82 | 91 |
| Trust score | 84 | 100 |
| Cost score | 88 | 92 |
| Platform score | 94 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 89 | 89 |
| Best for | US beginner and intermediate investors · Mobile-first stock/ETF/options trading · Users wanting brokerage and crypto in one brand ecosystem | Best suited for U.S.-centric investors and active traders who want a large, bank-affiliated multi-asset brokerage with $0 online listed stock/ETF commissions, strong platform dept… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | SEC/FINRA/SIPC for brokerage entities; CFTC/NFA for futures; NYDFS, FinCEN, and state money transmitter regulators for crypto. Source | SEC; FINRA; SIPC; CFTC; NFA; FDIC Source |
| License numbers | RHC NMLS ID 1702840; RHY NMLS ID 1990968; RHC New York Money Transmitter License MT104190 and Virtual Currency License 0000012. Other broker-dealer CRD/SEC registration numbers not verified from official sources in this pass. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. CRD 5393; SEC 801-29938 and 8-16514 Source |
| Regulated entities | RHF and RHS are registered broker-dealers/member SIPC; RAM is SEC-registered investment adviser; RHD is CFTC-registered FCM and NFA member; RHC is NMLS 1702840 and NYDFS virtual currency licensed. Source | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.; Charles Schwab Futures and Forex LLC; Charles Schwab Bank, SSB; Charles Schwab Premier Bank, SSB Source |
| Negative balance protection | No negative balance protection verified; official margin and futures risk disclosures state customers can lose more than deposited/initial investment and can be responsible for deficits. Source | Not disclosed as retail brokerage negative balance protection; futures/forex are leveraged and losses may exceed initial investment. Source |
| Investor compensation | RHF/RHS brokerage customers receive SIPC coverage; crypto and futures are not SIPC/FDIC protected; cash card funds at Sutton Bank may have FDIC pass-through coverage. Source | SIPC protection up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit for brokerage account assets; futures accounts are not protected by SIPC. Source |
| Restricted countries | RHF does not offer foreign investment accounts; applicant generally needs US SSN, legal US residential address, and US citizenship/permanent residence/valid visa; OFAC/FATF high-risk restrictions apply. Source | Not all products, services, or investments are available in all countries; Schwab is not registered outside the United States and products/services may not be registered in a user's jurisdiction. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | No general self-directed brokerage minimum deposit verified; crypto can start with $1; Robinhood Strategies minimum investment is $50; margin access requires $2,000 minimum portfolio value. Source | $0 minimum for standard U.S. brokerage and IRA accounts; Schwab One International accounts require a minimum deposit but amount is not disclosed in checked official pages. Source |
| Spread from | Robinhood discloses crypto buy/sell spread exists, but no fixed minimum spread-from value was verified; stock/ETF spreads are market-dependent. Source | Not applicable to this stock/ETF investment broker profile; no CFD/FX spread schedule identified as a core product in reviewed sources. Source |
| Commission | $0 commissions for US-listed and OTC securities and their options electronically; index options $0.50/contract non-Gold or $0.35/contract Gold; regulatory fees and other fees may apply. Source | stock_commission: $0 online commission for listed stocks and ETFs; OTC equities $6.95; broker-assisted service charge $25; etf_commission: $0 online commission for listed U.S.-exchange ETFs; options_commission: $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per options contract; futures_commission: $2.25 per contract, per side, for futures and futures options; exchange, regulatory, overnight, NFA, and market-data fees may apply; mutual_fund_commission: $0 on thousands of Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds; all other mutual funds up to $74.95 per purchase; bond_commission: New-issue bonds/CDs: $0 online/selling concession included; Treasuries online $0; most other secondary bonds $1 per bond with $10 minimum and $250 maximum; forex_commission: $0 commission; forex trade costs are reflected in the bid/ask spread Source |
| Maximum leverage | No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed. Securities margin borrowing depends on eligibility and account holdings; futures involve leverage and can lose more than initial investment; margin and futures requirements can change. Source | Not disclosed as a single broker-level maximum; leverage/margin depends on product, account approval, and regulatory/product requirements. Source |
| Deposit fee | ACH and incoming wire deposits $0; instant bank transfer deposits $0; debit card deposits up to 1.75% (min $1, max $150); crypto receive no extra Robinhood fee. Source | $0 for funds entering a standard brokerage account; banking deposit services generally no monthly/account minimum fees, but certain services can have fees Source |
| Withdrawal fee | Standard ACH withdrawals $0; outgoing wire $25; instant withdrawals/debit card external withdrawals up to 1.75% (min $1, max $150); ACATS out $100; crypto sends incur network fees. Source | No fee for routine withdrawals from standard brokerage per FAQ; full outbound ACAT $50 and outgoing wire $25; Schwab Bank Investor Checking has unlimited ATM fee rebates for cash withdrawals worldwide, subject to conditions. Source |
| Inactivity fee | Robinhood Financial fee schedule lists inactive account fees as $0. Source | $0 annual maintenance/inactivity fee for standard brokerage accounts Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Over 11,200 securities including most US stocks, ETFs, CEFs, options, ADRs, certain crypto, and futures products; managed portfolios use ETFs and stocks. Source | Stocks; fractional shares; ETFs; mutual funds; bonds/CDs/fixed income; money market funds; options; futures; futures options; forex; international stocks/ADRs/foreign ordinaries; cash products; annuities; alternatives; crypto ETPs/securities/futures. Source |
| Trading platforms | Robinhood supports trading in-app, on web classic, and via Robinhood Legend for advanced trading features; feature availability can differ across platforms. Source | Schwab.com; Schwab Mobile; thinkorswim desktop; thinkorswim web; thinkorswim mobile; paperMoney Source |
| Account types | Individual/cash/margin investing, joint, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, managed accounts, futures, and crypto accounts are supported subject to eligibility. Source | Individual Brokerage; Joint Brokerage; Schwab One Brokerage; Investor Checking-linked brokerage; Futures Account; Global Account; IRAs; custodial, education, trust, estate, organization, and business retirement accounts; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios. Source |
| Deposit methods | Deposits can be made by bank transfer/ACH, instant bank transfer, debit card, internal Robinhood Banking transfer, wire, direct deposit, recurring deposits, and retirement transfers/rollovers depending on account type. Source | ACH/electronic transfer/MoneyLink; wire transfer; check/mail check; Schwab Mobile Deposit for checking; direct deposit for checking; account transfer/ACAT; branch/in-person deposit where available. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | Withdrawals/transfers include ACH, instant debit/bank withdrawals, internal Robinhood Banking transfers, wires, ACATS for securities/cash, and supported crypto sends. Source | Transfer to linked bank/checking; wire transfer; check; ATM/debit card for Schwab Bank Investor Checking; ACAT outbound account transfer. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | Standard bank deposits up to 4 business days, instant deposits may allow trading before full availability and can take up to 5 business days; debit transfers typically 30 minutes; managed withdrawals can take extra 2-3 days; crypto transfer timing varies by confirmations and review. Source | Cash moved from brokerage to linked Investor Checking is generally available in seconds, but weekend/after-hours transfers may not be available until the next business day; other withdrawal methods vary/not fully disclosed on checked pages. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.